Beginning of Semester Message

Hello UT Instructors,

Welcome to the Spring 2025 semester, and a special welcome to our new and returning instructors! I hope you had a relaxing and rejuvenating break. To help you start the semester, the team has curated a list of important announcements, tool updates, and helpful resources to ensure you’re set up for success from the very start. FYI, this email is sent to all instructors teaching this semester. If you would like your TA or someone else to view this message, please feel free to forward it!

Before you continue, please note that we announced at the end of last semester an update to Canvas email addresses, changing them to IID emails (EID@eid.utexas.edu). We postponed this change until the end of spring semester to further test the impact on external tool integrations. We will provide a new timeline later this semester.

Finally, we are very interested in hearing your thoughts on our learning technology ecosystem. Help us prioritize our work and improve your experience with our services. Please drop us a note about what’s working and what isn’t working on this feedback form Links to an external site..

Getting started in Canvas

  

Canvas Updates - https://canvas.utexas.edu Links to an external site. 

  • Student Inactive status – students who q-drop courses will now be kept in the roster but set to “Inactive”, which filters them from course participation, the gradebook, and group assignments. Drops ahead of the 12th class day will be deleted as normal.   

Canvas App Store and External Tool Updates 

  • Do you wonder what learning tools are approved? Check out the UT Canvas Apps page! We’ve made it easier to find and install approved apps in Canvas. Look for the ‘UT Canvas Apps’ course menu link to get started. 
  • If you’re interested in a new technology tool and want to integrate it with Canvas, ISO (Information Security Office) approval and a business contract are required. Check our External Apps page Links to an external site. for a list of approved tools/vendors.
  • Course Evaluations Canvas Link - Instructors, be sure to keep your Course Evaluations link active in the Canvas navigation menu to ensure student access at the time of evaluation. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Service Desk at 512-475-9400 or help@utexas.edu. 
  • The My Classroom course menu link will be your classroom technology resource guide. Using the course unique number, Registrar data and the classroom technology database, the tool will list the available technologies in the classroom your course is assigned to. 

Zoom – https://zoom.its.utexas.edu Links to an external site. 


Panopto – https://utexas.hosted.panopto.com Links to an external site. 

  

Microsoft 365 – https://microsoft365.utexas.edu/ Links to an external site.

  • Everyone at UT is provided a Microsoft 365 account by default, providing access to the Microsoft Office Online suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook, OneNote, Power Platform, and more! 
  • Looking for some hands-on help? Request a Microsoft 365 general consultation or tool specific consultation (SharePoint, Teams, Bookings, Forms, etc...) from tlc-training@austin.utexas.edu.  
  • We are continuing to expand the Teams/Canvas integration. If you are interested, please contact canvas@utlists.utexas.edu. 

Qualtrics – https://utexas.qualtrics.com Links to an external site.

 

AI Detection Software Guidance  

Our colleagues in The Office of Academic Technology have engaged with multiple stakeholders across campus to provide official guidance on the acceptable use of AI Detection Software Links to an external site. on campus. Instructors seeking assistance with this guidance may contact the Office of Academic Technology. The Center for Teaching and Learning also maintains helpful resources related to generative AI and assessment Links to an external site.. 

Do you have FERPA Questions?  

Working in partnership, University Compliance, CTL, Enterprise Technology, and the Office of Academic Technology (OAT) are collaborating to develop a new FERPA Links to an external site. training for instructors and teaching assistants. The team is soliciting feedback from faculty, assistant instructors, and teaching assistants on questions they have about FERPA and technology use. These questions will help inform the development of this resource. Please submit your questions using the OAT's FERPA open comment form Links to an external site.. 

For monthly updates on learning technology tools including those above and more, please subscribe to the Academic Technology Update Newsletter Links to an external site..  

Thank you! 

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Teaching and Learning Technology (TLT) | Enterprise Technology (ET)    

https://canvas.utexas.edu Links to an external site. | help@utexas.edu